Lydia Nicole

{{short description|American actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Lydia Nicole | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Actress, comedian, writer, producer | years_active = | known_for = Common Sense Mamita | notable_works =  | style = | net_worth =  | height = 5 ft 4 in | television = | children = | parents =  | mother =  | father =  | relatives = | awards = | website =  | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = | burial_place =  | burial_coordinates =  | spouse =  | partner =  }}

'''Lydia Nicole''' is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer based out of Los Angeles, California. Her career in the entertainment industry began in 1972 with the Inner City Broadcasting Corporation at New York City R&B station, WBLS-FM. In 1981, she made her debut as an actress guest starring on ''The Greatest American Hero''. Nicole is best known for her role as Rafaela in ''Stand and Deliver'', and her current project, web series ''Common Sense Mamita''.

== Early life and education == Nicole grew up in Spanish Harlem, New York City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spicycilantro.wordpress.com/2012/11/05/politicizing-rape-inflicts-more-injury-to-victims/|title=Politicizing Rape Inflicts More Injury to Victims|last=Cilantro|first=Spicy|date=2012-11-05|website=Spicy Cilantro|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref> From 13 to 18 years old, she worked for radio station WBLS-FM, New York as assistant music director.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theamericanlatina.com/2010_09_01_archive.html|title=The American Latina: September 2010|website=Theamericanlatina.com|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref>

== Career == Nicole landed her first role on television in 1981 when she guest starred in ''The Greatest American Hero''. She made appearances in shows such as ''Hill Street Blues'' (1981) and ''The Fall Guy'' (1981), and movies like ''Murder in Texas'' (1981). In a 1983 issue of Ebony Magazine, Nicole was named one of the "New Faces in Hollywood".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DtkDAAAAMBAJ|title=Ebony|date=1983-04-01|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref> In 1982, she appeared in a two-part episode of ''The Jeffersons'' as gang leader, Rachel, who robs and stabs George Jefferson. She then landed the role as Rafaela costarring with Edward James Olmos in ''Stand and Deliver''.

=== ''Common Sense Mamita'' === Common Sense Mamita is a comedic web series written, produced and hosted by Nicole. The show premiered on Latin Heat Entertainment in 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latinheat.com/tv-3/tv-news-tv-3/lydia-nicoles-common-sense-mamita-vlog-exclusive-on-latin-heat-channel/|title=Lydia Nicole's "Common Sense Mamita" Vlog Exclusive On Latin Heat Channel {{!}} LatinHeat Entertainment|website=Latinheat.com|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref> and has run weekly every Thursday since.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailybulletin.com.au/pitch-engine-australia/9775-actress-comedienne-lydia-nicole-returns-with-spicy-season-three-of-popular-vlog-common-sense-mamita|title=Actress/Comedienne LYDIA NICOLE Returns with Spicy Season Three of Popular Vlog 'COMMON SENSE MAMITA'|last=Engine|first=Pitch|website=Local news, local events and what's happening around Australia|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref>

== Other ventures == Nicole co-produced comedy shows "Funny Ladies of Color" and the "Hot & Spicy Mamitas", and also wrote, produced and starred in her second one-woman show, ''A Rose Grows in Spanish Harlem''.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.heralddeparis.com/the-rose-of-spanish-harlem-actress-executive-lydia-nicole/|title=The Rose of Spanish Harlem, Actress & Executive LYDIA NICOLE|website=Heralddeparis.com|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref> Starting in 1985, Nicole began working alongside filmmaker Robert Townsend" on the movie ''Hollywood Shuffle'' (1988). She worked with him again in 2002 on film and web series productions. She started as a basic assistant and became associate producer of Code Black Entertainment's ''Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy'', ''Los Americans'', and ''In the Hive''.<ref name="auto"/> In 2015, she produced Townsend's film ''Playin' for Love'', a romantic comedy film with Townsend Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pitchengine.com/pitches/383e318b-dcb7-411d-aed0-11f7179103be|title=Multi-Talented LYDIA NICOLE Produces Positive Message with ROBERT TOWNSEND's "PLAYIN' FOR LOVE" : Spotlight PR Company|website=Pitchengine.com|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy === From 1991 to 2002, Nicole took her childhood story ''Calling up Papi'' to high schools across the country and youth authorities around Southern California in an effort to promote the importance of education to inner city kids and juvenile offenders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmslatemagazine.com/reel-talk-interview-actress-lyda-nicole-on-her-long-hollywood-career/|title=Actress Lydia Nicole on Her Long Hollywood Career|date=2015-12-22|website=Film Slate Magazine: Your Hub for Moviemaking Tips and the Insightful Commentary on Indie Film, Television and Hollywood|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref>

She spoke for various organizations such as Athletes and Entertainers For Kids, The Ryan White program, Kareem's Kids and Kathy Ireland's Mother's and Daughter's Tea.

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable" | !Year !Title !Role |- |1981 |''The Greatest American Hero'' | | |- |1981 |''Murder in Texas'' |Nurse Pollard |Billy Hale |- |1981 |''Hill Street Blues'' |Girl/rape victim |Randa Haines |- |1982 |''The Jeffersons'' |Rachel |Bob Lally |- |1982 |Honeyboy |Soledad |John Barry |- |1983 |''Max Dugan Returns'' |Celia |Herbert Ross |- |1984 |''Shattered Vows'' |Nun |Jack Bender |- |1984 |''The Fall Guy'' | | |- |1985 |A Death in California |Delores |Delbert Mann |- |1985 |''Hell Town'' - TV series |Milo |Don Medford |- |1987 |Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies |Isabel |Paul Wendkos |- |1987 |''Hollywood Shuffle'' |Make-up woman |Robert Townsend (actor) |- |1988 |''Stand and Deliver'' |Rafaela Fuentes |Ramón Menéndez |- |1989 |''Thirtysomething'' |Janet |Peter Horton |- |1990 |''Cop Rock'' |Miriam Hernandez |Gregory Hoblit |- |1993 |Rock the Vote | | |- |1993 |''Indecent Proposal'' |Citizenship student |Adrian Lyne |- |1994 |''Stranger By Night'' |Hooker #1 |Gregory Brown |- |1998 |''Martial Law'' - TV series |Maria |John Kretchmer |- |2000 |''Rave'' |Rosa |Ron Krauss |- |2001 |''10 Attitudes'' |Claire |Michael Gallant |- |2006 |''Sweet Deadly Dreams'' |Detective Rodriguez |Walter Stewart |- |2013 |Common Sense Mamita |Hostess | |- |2014 |Latinas Chat Media | | |- |2015 |Absolutely Jason Stuart | | |} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=rebecca&p=5&item=T:29341|title=The Paley Center for Media|website=The Paley Center for Media|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref>

By 1988, Nicole took up comedy in the Latino standup world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.entertainingdiversity.com/crossingtheline.html|title=Crossing The Line|website=Entertainingdiversity.com|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref> She was one of very few Latinas on the comedy circuit and a regular at the World Famous Comedy Store. She also opened for her former employer, R&B singer Patrice Rushen. In 1993, Nicole was featured on BET's Comic View. In 1991, the lack of racial and gender diversity in stand up prompted Nicole to co-find "Funny Ladies of Color"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives|title=Archives|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref> with comic Cha Cha Sandoval and agent Sharona Fae. The group was composed of women of color including Sherri Shepherd, Jackie Guerra, Dyana Ortelli, Lotus Weinstock and Carlease Burke. She also co-founded "The Hot & Spicy Mamitas",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-15-cl-17401-story.html|title=It's Loco Emotion With Latina Comics|last=KARLIN|first=SUSAN|date=1999-03-15|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref> the first all female Latina stand-up comedy show, featuring Sully Diaz, Marilyn Martinez, Ludo Vika and Dyana Ortelli. Together, they released a stand-up comedy album on Uproar Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uproarcomedycd.com/shop/sully-diaz-dyana-ortelli-lydia-nicole-marilyn-martinez-ludo-vika-the-hot-spicy-mamitas/|title=Sully Diaz, Dyana Ortelli, Lydia Nicole, Marilyn Martinez, Ludo Vika – "The Hot & Spicy Mamitas" {{!}} Uproar Entertainment|website=Uproarcomedycd.com|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/hot-and-spicy-mamitas/151185|title=Hot and Spicy Mamitas|website=Audiobooks.com|access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref> The group was mentioned in Darryl J. Littleton and Tuezdae Littleton's book, ''Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady'' along with female comedians Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, Lucille Ball, and Margaret Cho.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iz_S7n9bWW8C|title=Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady|last1=Littleton|first1=Darryl J.|last2=Littleton|first2=Tuezdae|date=2012-09-01|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9781480329744|language=en}}</ref>

Nicole took her standup and created her first one-woman show entitled "Calling Up Papi" at the World Famous Comedy Store<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.puertorico.com/forums/literature-film/4734-must-see.html|title=A must see! - Puerto Rico Discussion Forum|website=Puertorico.com|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref> in which she performs the roles of 26 characters.

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicole, Lydia}} Category:Living people Category:20th-century American actresses Category:People from East Harlem Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American film actresses Category:Fordham University alumni Category:American women comedians Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Actresses from Manhattan Category:Comedians from Manhattan